I forgot about the warmer ground water temps here... I need to focus on my dang camper shell for the moment, I'll live on booze and Avery in the meantime.
Alaskan Camper Build Up
- Thread starter Carlyle
- Start date
I forgot about the warmer ground water temps here... I need to focus on my dang camper shell for the moment, I'll live on booze and Avery in the meantime.
Carlyle
Explorer
I forgot about the warmer ground water temps here... I need to focus on my dang camper shell for the moment, I'll live on booze and Avery in the meantime.
i just read your whole build up this morning, excellent work! I was just at Avery last week with the wife. Good beer as usual, even the odd ball ones like the Chocolate Mint stout. Perhaps we can meet sometime I'm up there again.
noJeepshere
Adventurer
Also some quality mudflaps would do you well.
Carlyle
Explorer
Recent activity;
I got to tear into the Plat Cat and replace the fan motor. Started making a noise like a angry cat, no pun intended. It was a good thing to do as it helped me figure out how this things works, comes apart and goes back together while not in the hinterland. Customer support was phenomenal and new part was here in just a couple days. Arnie, the owner explained how it all worked nicely. After using this heater on a regular basis this winter I have to say it is a great little unit and uses hardly any power at all, much superior to a regular cat heater as it has no CO build up. A furnace produces a little more heat, but sucks your batteries and furnace down much faster.
Motor housing and propane in line:
Fan and motor off and ready for replacement:
I got to tear into the Plat Cat and replace the fan motor. Started making a noise like a angry cat, no pun intended. It was a good thing to do as it helped me figure out how this things works, comes apart and goes back together while not in the hinterland. Customer support was phenomenal and new part was here in just a couple days. Arnie, the owner explained how it all worked nicely. After using this heater on a regular basis this winter I have to say it is a great little unit and uses hardly any power at all, much superior to a regular cat heater as it has no CO build up. A furnace produces a little more heat, but sucks your batteries and furnace down much faster.
Motor housing and propane in line:
Fan and motor off and ready for replacement:
slowmover2
New member
Cab & Chassis Commercial Use Report
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Great thread. Have really enjoyed reading it in its entirety this evening. Thanks for the work needed to show us.
". . i think it's hurting my fuel mileage, in addition it throws off my outside temp reading especially when the engine fan turns on".
I'm glad you've changed the tire mount. Visibility also a concern. MPG is rolling resistance to 45-mph (mainly tire tread design), and then aerodynamic resistance past 60-mph (why the national limit was in the sweet spot of 55-mph after 1973).
FWIW I would leave well enough alone in re engine software and hardware. A Cummins engineer in that department has confirmed to me that the price of the exhaust emissions downstream portion of the current CTD pickup is in excess of $15k. MPG is more about driver training, trip planning and, vehicle dependent: aero improvements and/or gear changes.
Here's a report from the oilfield on using the DODGE C&C in hotshot operations (the drilling rig calls and wants a part or tool yesterday. High pay per mile and strict timeline. Not road speed, per se, but efficient use of time, overall). The report is by one who knows what he is about (as I have also done this, and still run oilfield, but now in Class 8).
ElkyRacer: DEF Useage & IFTA Mileage Report
He's running harder, faster and heavier than you with your rig, but this is verifiable average mpg in the Texas/Louisiana oilfield, not campfire brags.
I'd say that any changes in re mpg improvements be measured against the per-night cost of the rig (X-years of ownership/use plus annual miles over Y-nights of use). Fuel is not the big portion of the budget versus all other costs combined.
As noted in a post above, the more stringent emissions requirements today are similar to what cars went through in the early 1970's. But the cost of screwing around with them will be far higher. Diagnosing some problems is only worsened, IMO, by changing what the factory put in place. They already have enough computer flashes that one never knows whether one is current or not. I say leave well enough alone.
That said, were you up for changes in aero, the group on www.ecomodder.com would be willing to take a stab at it. Have a look at the changes to a Class C motorhome by orbywan for ideas.
I own an aero aluminum TT pulled by a triple-nickle CTD and am always looking for ideas for both. Your thread is a keeper!!
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Great thread. Have really enjoyed reading it in its entirety this evening. Thanks for the work needed to show us.
". . i think it's hurting my fuel mileage, in addition it throws off my outside temp reading especially when the engine fan turns on".
I'm glad you've changed the tire mount. Visibility also a concern. MPG is rolling resistance to 45-mph (mainly tire tread design), and then aerodynamic resistance past 60-mph (why the national limit was in the sweet spot of 55-mph after 1973).
FWIW I would leave well enough alone in re engine software and hardware. A Cummins engineer in that department has confirmed to me that the price of the exhaust emissions downstream portion of the current CTD pickup is in excess of $15k. MPG is more about driver training, trip planning and, vehicle dependent: aero improvements and/or gear changes.
Here's a report from the oilfield on using the DODGE C&C in hotshot operations (the drilling rig calls and wants a part or tool yesterday. High pay per mile and strict timeline. Not road speed, per se, but efficient use of time, overall). The report is by one who knows what he is about (as I have also done this, and still run oilfield, but now in Class 8).
ElkyRacer: DEF Useage & IFTA Mileage Report
He's running harder, faster and heavier than you with your rig, but this is verifiable average mpg in the Texas/Louisiana oilfield, not campfire brags.
I'd say that any changes in re mpg improvements be measured against the per-night cost of the rig (X-years of ownership/use plus annual miles over Y-nights of use). Fuel is not the big portion of the budget versus all other costs combined.
As noted in a post above, the more stringent emissions requirements today are similar to what cars went through in the early 1970's. But the cost of screwing around with them will be far higher. Diagnosing some problems is only worsened, IMO, by changing what the factory put in place. They already have enough computer flashes that one never knows whether one is current or not. I say leave well enough alone.
That said, were you up for changes in aero, the group on www.ecomodder.com would be willing to take a stab at it. Have a look at the changes to a Class C motorhome by orbywan for ideas.
I own an aero aluminum TT pulled by a triple-nickle CTD and am always looking for ideas for both. Your thread is a keeper!!
.
Carlyle
Explorer
Plat Cat draws about 1/2 amp per hour.
Carlyle
Explorer
Interesting reading at the links you provided and thanks for the leads. Weight and tires are my biggest problems with my mileage and that will never go away.
Glad you were able to plow through the whole build x2.
dtruzinski
4 Season Traveller
They have not arrived yet, but the plan is to bolt/rivet them on to existing fender flares.
Carlyle
Explorer
drodio
Entrepreneur & Lifehacker
Carlyle,
@Outbackamper turned me on to your thread from over here, where I'm trying to figure out how big a rig to get for an XPCamper.
After spending a few hours reading your thread, I'm seriously considering something bigger than an F350... like your Dodge 5500.
I was wondering, with those mpt81s on your rig, what kind of MPGs do you get? And do you know what you got before you put them on?
Your build looks fantastic, thanks for sharing!
@Outbackamper turned me on to your thread from over here, where I'm trying to figure out how big a rig to get for an XPCamper.
After spending a few hours reading your thread, I'm seriously considering something bigger than an F350... like your Dodge 5500.
I was wondering, with those mpt81s on your rig, what kind of MPGs do you get? And do you know what you got before you put them on?
Your build looks fantastic, thanks for sharing!
Kilroy
Adventurer
Hi Carlyle,
Nice article in Truck Camper Magazine. They got some really nice pictures of the inside. They should have given more credit to your first build, article made it sound like you had a stock Alaskan in the first place. Where did you run across those guys? Happy Camping.
Dave
http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/off-road-expeditions/carl-isner-an-ultimate-alaskan-camper-rig
Nice article in Truck Camper Magazine. They got some really nice pictures of the inside. They should have given more credit to your first build, article made it sound like you had a stock Alaskan in the first place. Where did you run across those guys? Happy Camping.
Dave
http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/off-road-expeditions/carl-isner-an-ultimate-alaskan-camper-rig